John ed ward kelly



(No Model.)

J. EQKELLY.

'SPEAKING TUBE ATTACHMENT. No. 369,340. Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EDWVARD KELLY, OF CAMDEN, NElV JERSEY.

SPEAKING-TUBE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,340, dated September 6, 1887.

Application filed August 30, 1886.

T 0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN EDWARD KELLY, of Camden, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Speaking-Tube Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to instruments for the transmission of signals and speech, and is especially adapted to speaking-tubes and telephone-receivers; and it consists in certain improvements, all of which are fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

Speaking-tubes have usually been made with a mouthpiece which is used alternately for speaking into and hearing from, and said mouthpiece has been provided with a signaling-whistle valve which, when the tube is being used for the transmission of speech, is

turned up or down out of the way to allow a clear orifice for the vibration of the air. It has also been proposed to provide a flexible hinged mouth -piece with an automatic whistlingvalve in which, when the mouth-piece hangs down when not in use, the whistle obstructs the ear-passage and is in operative position; but when the mouth-piece is raised the whistle falls back, so as to form a clear passageway for the air. This form of apparatus has also been provided with an ear-trumpet, which is rigidly connected to the metallic mouth-piece, so that when one is held up in operating position the other is held up also. This, however, forms a device with considerable tendency to derangement of the valve. It has also been customary to provide mechanical speakingtelephones with flexible ear-tubes connecting with a chamber back of the diaphragm, and, owing to the necessity of accommodating persons who may be slightly or wholly deaf in either ear, two of these flexible ear-tubes have been arranged,one upon each side,to suit both the right and left ear. This requirement has not been provided for in the speaking-tube above referred to as far as I am aware.

The object of .my invention is to overcome the objections existing in these forms of apparatuses by providing a suitable device whereby with one ear-tube I am enabled to accommo Serial No. 212,143. (No model.)

date persons who may be deaf in either car or who may be right or left handed.

My object is also to providea suitable whistle which is automatically cut into or out of action by the act of moving the ear-tube, speech not being carried on through the whistle-orifice. In the case of telephones my object is to provide a single ear-tube which may be moved to the right or left ear to suit the hearing of the operator.

In carrying out my invention I provide a box or case with a rotary cap or cover to which the ear-tube is attached, preferably by a flexible connection. In the case of speaking-tubes this cap or cover is alsoprovided with a mouthpiece, arranged preferably diametrically opposite to the ear-tube with reference to the pivot center of the said cap or cover. The receiving-box is providedwith three openings, one for the whistle and the remaining two diametrically opposite with reference to the pivot, so that when the mouth-piece is over one opening the eartube is over the other, and vice versa. Furthermore, when not in use the weight of the ear-tube causes the cap to rotate until the tube hangs vertically downward, in which position the mouth-piece has been brought over the whistle and the two other openings in the case are closed, and the device is in signaling condition.

It is evident that it is not essential that the mouth-piece form the valve-opening for the whistle, as of course any opening might be made in the cap or cover, the particular location of the holes and number of them being immaterial to my invention, the essential feature of which is an ear-tube capable of adjustment for either ear, and also a movable cap or cover operated by the ear-piece to actas a valve to close the signal and open a passageway through the mouth-piece and ear-tnbe, or to close these latter openings and put the whistle into operative condition.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a speakingtube attachment embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional eleva tion of same on line 00 x, but with part of the tubes in elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of same with the cap or cover removed;

and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a me- ICO chanieal telephone with my improved hearing-tube attached thereto, part of which tube is cut off. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of apparatus embodying my invention.

A is the receiving boX or compartment, and I3 is the speaking-tube entering therein. This box or compartment is preferably cylindrical in shape, and is provided with a diaphragm, 0, having three openingsone, E, at the top, inwhich the whistle e ishinged, and two openings, D D,arranged on ahorizontalline through the center and on opposite sides thereof.

F is the cap or cover,which is pivoted by a screw or pin, G, and is held to the diaphragm O with an elastic pressure by a spring, y, so as to form a practically air-tight joint, and this may be still further assisted by covering either the surface of the diaphragm O or the head F, or both, with soft felt cloth or other suitable material, M, which will also create sufficient friction to cause the head 13 to remain in the position assumed until the full weight of the hearing-tube is brought into action to cause it to rotate and assume thepo sition indicated in the figures.

H is the mouth-piece, and I is the metallic section to which the hearing-tube is attached, and which parts H and I are secured to the head F, and are arranged on diametricallyopposite sides of the pivot G.

K is the ear-piece proper, and is formed of light sheet metal, and is connected to the curved section Iby a fiexibletube, J, and by its weight g holds the mouth-piece H over the whistle c and closes its other orifice by a solid portion of the diaphragm 0 when not in use.

It will readily be seen that to use the instrument it is simply necessary to turn the ear-tube to either one car or the other,which action brings its orifice before either one or the other of the openings D, and simultaneously therewith brings the mouth-piece H over the other opening D and closes the whistle. \No now have one opening Dleading to the mouth and the other openingDleading to the ear. The cap or plate F forms, essentially,a valve, as in its movements it is adapted to open and close the various openings in the case.

To attach the case to the wall, I provide screw-openings in the back, through which screws L may be passed, and such screws are located immediately back of the openings D, so that they may be inserted and screwed into place through the mouth-piece H, and thereby attach the apparatus to the wall in an invisible manner. The whistle c is hinged, so that when it is desired to signal from this end of the tube the operator may blow into the mouthpiece H, causing the whistle to swing back and admit the air-blast to the tube. Any aircurrents coming in the opposite direction cause the whistle to close and operate. As the whistle-hinge is fixed and gravity alone is depended on, the device is extremely simple and not liable to derangement.

To prevent too great a movement to the cap or cover or the ear-tube, I provide the said cap or cover, or a part connected with the ear-tube, with a lug, which moves between two stops, a on the case or frame A and limits the move ment of said ear-tube and its attachments, so as to bring it (and the mouth-piece, when used) over the proper openings. Any other form of stop might be used.

In the construction shown in Iii g. 5 the cap F is made like an ordinary spcakingtube, except that it is movable upon the part A and is provided with the ear-tube. In this case the diaphragm C is made in the form of a segment of a cylinder and acts as an air cut-off to the airtnbe when it is allowed to hang normally when not in use. The whistle may be hinged and operated by gravity, falling out of the way when the ear-tube is raised, and into position before the mouth-openi n g when the ear-tube is down.

In the case of the telephone the diaphragm N would be attached to the case A, which is sup ported by a bracket, I. Upon this caseA the cap F would be rotatably supported and would be provided with the cartube, as in the case of the speaking-tube attachmentf In this case the cap would be pivoted at the periphery instead of at the center; but the effect would be the same. The rear portion of the cap, if placed at the back of the case, would have a small opening, a, through which the telephone-cord 0 would pass, as indicated in Fig. 4.

While I prefer the construction shown, I do not limit myself to the details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention.

I claim l. A receiving-instrument provided with a rotary portion adjustable in a vertical plane, a hearing-tube secured to said rotary portion and opening through the same, whereby it may be moved bodily into operative position for either right or left ear, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A rcceiving-instrument provided with a rotary portion adjustable in a vertical plane, a hearing-tube secured to said rotary portion and opening through the same, whereby it may be moved bodily into operative position for either right or left ear, and a mouth-piece having a fixed relative position with reference to the eartube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a receiving-instrument, the combina tion of the mouth-piece with an adjustable ear-tube pivoted to the mouth-piece-supporting structure, adapted to be moved about the said mouth-piece to adapt it to the right or left ear, substantially as and for the purpose specified. v

a. The combination of a speaking-tube, a receiving-compartment, a diaphragm therefor having a signal-whistle and suitable perforations for the passage of air, a movable cap or cover, a mouth-piece, and an ear-tube attached to said cap or cover, whereby the movement of the ear-tube to or from the car will cause the mouth-piece to move over the air-passage or over the whistle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of a speaking-tube, a receivingcompartment, a diaphragm therefor having a signal-whistle, suitable perforations for the passage of air, a movable cap or cover, a mouth-piece, an ear-tube attached to said cap or cover, whereby the movement of the ear-tube to or from the car will cause the mouth-piece to move over the air-passage or over the whistle, and a spring-connection between the diaphragm and cap or cover to make a tight joint, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of a speakingtube, a receiving-compartment, a diaphragm therefor having a signal-whistle, suitable perforations for the passage of air, a movable cap or cover, a mouth-piece, an ear-tube attached to said cap or cover, whereby the movement of the ear-tube to or from the car will cause the mouth-piece to move over the air-passage or over the whistle, and a packing arranged between the diaphragm and cap or cover to make a tight joint, substantiafiy as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination of a speaking-tube, a receiving-compartment, a diaphragm therefor having a signal-whistle, suitable perforations for the passage of air, a movable cap or cover, a mouth-piece, an ear-tube attached to said cap or cover, whereby the movement of the ear-tube to or from the ear will cause the mouth-piece to move over the air-passage or over the whistle, a spring pivotconnection between the diaphragm and cap or cover, and a packing arranged between the said diaphragm and cap joint, substantially specified.

8. In a speaking-tube attachment, a receiving-compartment having a diaphragm formed with three perforations, one of which is provided with a signal-whistle, a pivoted cap or cover carrying a mouth-piece, and an ear-tube arranged to open in line with said perforations,

as and for the purpose and-cover to make a tight whereby the ear-tube may be closed and the mouth-piece brozfght over the whistle, or the whistle closed and the mouth-piece and eartube brought over the other two perforations, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a speaking-tube attachment, the combination of a receiving compartment and whistle located therein, a rotary valve or cap pivoted thereto and adapted to open or close the whistle, and an ear-tube directly secured to said cap and adjustable about its pivotpoint, whereby when the ear-tube is raised the cap is rotated and valve closed, or vice versa, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a speaking-tube attachment, the combination of a receiving compartment and whistle located therein, a rotary perforated valve or cap pivoted thereto and adapted to open or close the whistle, and an ear-tube directly secured to said cap and adjustable about its pivot-point, whereby the weight of the pivoted adjustable eartube when allowed to fall will rotate the perforated valve or cap to bring its opening or perforation over the whistle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a speaking-tube attachment,a mouthpiece and ear-tube opening into the main tube, in combination with said main tube, aninflexible pivot-support for the mouth-piece, and a flexible support for the ear-tube, also carried by the mouth-piece support, whereby the eartube may be moved independently of the mouth-piece, substantially as and for the purpose speeified.

12. The combination of a receiving case or frame, a movable cap or cover, F, and a flexible eartube connected to and movable with said cap or cover, substantially as and-for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention Ihereunto Set my hand.

JOHN EDWARD KELLY.

WVitnesses R. M. HUNTER, ANDREW ZANE, Jr. 

